The massive plastic-cleaning device invented by a 24-year-old has run into problems in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Take a look at its difficult journey.

Peter Kotecki, provided by

Published
10:57 am PDT, Friday, May 24, 2019

oceantrash30_ph.JPG This handout picture shows marine researcher Charles Moore on an expedition in the Pacific Ocean sometime between July through September of 2002. He holds a sample of ocean water from the North Central Pacific Gyre that contains small pieces of plastic. Moore, who works at the Long Beach-based Algalita Marina Research Foundation, has been studying the stew of plastic and marine debris floating in the ocean. Matt Cramer / Algalita Marina Research / Courtesy to The Chronicle Ran on: 10-30-2007 Researcher Charles Moore, shown on an expedition in the Pacific in 2002, holds a water sample from the North Pacific Gyre that contains small pieces of plastic taken from the mass of garbage. Ran on: 10-30-2007 Researcher Charles Moore, shown on an expedition in the Pacific in 2002, holds a water sample from the North Pacific Gyre that contains small pieces of plastic taken from the mass of garbage. Ran on: 11-03-2007 Researcher Charles Moore, shown on an expedition in the Pacific in 2002, holds a water sample from the North Pacific Gyre that contains small pieces of plastic taken from the mass of garbage.

oceantrash30_ph.JPG This handout picture shows marine researcher Charles Moore on an expedition in the Pacific Ocean sometime between July through September of 2002. He holds a sample of ocean water from the

oceantrash30_ph.JPG This handout picture shows marine researcher Charles Moore on an expedition in the Pacific Ocean sometime between July through September of 2002. He holds a sample of ocean water from the North Central Pacific Gyre that contains small pieces of plastic. Moore, who works at the Long Beach-based Algalita Marina Research Foundation, has been studying the stew of plastic and marine debris floating in the ocean. Matt Cramer / Algalita Marina Research / Courtesy to The Chronicle Ran on: 10-30-2007 Researcher Charles Moore, shown on an expedition in the Pacific in 2002, holds a water sample from the North Pacific Gyre that contains small pieces of plastic taken from the mass of garbage. Ran on: 10-30-2007 Researcher Charles Moore, shown on an expedition in the Pacific in 2002, holds a water sample from the North Pacific Gyre that contains small pieces of plastic taken from the mass of garbage. Ran on: 11-03-2007 Researcher Charles Moore, shown on an expedition in the Pacific in 2002, holds a water sample from the North Pacific Gyre that contains small pieces of plastic taken from the mass of garbage.

oceantrash30_ph.JPG This handout picture shows marine researcher Charles Moore on an expedition in the Pacific Ocean sometime between July through September of 2002. He holds a sample of ocean water from the

Slat's 2,000-foot-long device, System 001, recently spent four weeks in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where the organization hopes to collect 50 tons of plastic within one year. For the most part, the system has worked as expected and the team has not seen any harm to marine animals, Slat wrote in a November 20 post on the organization's website.

There is, however, apparently a problem with plastic leaving the device after being collected. The team expected surprises, he said, adding that The Ocean Cleanup was working on fixing the issue.

"Although we are not harvesting plastic yet, based on the current results, we are positive we are close to making it work," Slat wrote.

Plastic could be leaving the device for various reasons.

Slat said the system could be moving too slowly to catch plastic. In addition, vibrations at either end of the U-shaped device could be pushing plastic away when it comes close to the mouth of the contraption.

Slat defended his device in a previous interview with Business Insider, saying every new technology had been met with pessimistic reactions. His team launched its device for the first time in September, towing the device through the San Francisco Bay for a test in the ocean.

"There will always be people saying things can't be done," Slat said. "And history shows that time and time again things 'couldn't be done' and they were done."

He added: "I think asking questions is very valid, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it."